Langdon Tops Top Fuel Qualifying At Firebird

Shawn Langdon raced to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel Friday at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.

Johnny Gray and Jason Line also took the provisional top spots in the Funny Car and Pro Stock classes in the second of 23 races in the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season.

Langdon powered his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to a track record 3.754-second pass at 323.12 mph. It was the fifth quickest run in NHRA Top Fuel history and moved the driver into the provisional top spot with two qualifying sessions left. If it stands, it would be Langdon’s second career No. 1 qualifying position.

“This is a great team to be a part of,” said Langdon. “It shows how great Brian (Husen, crew chief) and Alan (Johnson, team manager) are. I’m glad I had the chance to show off their efforts in the pits. I was very shocked by the run. I was thinking if we could go a 3.78 or a 3.79, that would put us in a good position for tomorrow. I don’t think there was a 3.74 left. I think they used up every bit of the run. Our goal now is to work on the consistency we need to put us in the winner’s circle.”

Winternationals winner Spencer Massey currently sits in the third provisional spot in the category, while seven-time Top Fuel world champion and three time winner at Firebird International Raceway, Tony Schumacher is second in the provisional field. Langdon’s fellow Al-Anabi teammate, Khalid alBalooshi, sits in the provisional 11th spot in the field.

Gray followed his runner-up finish at Firebird International Raceway in 2011 with the quickest lap of the day Friday. Gray powered his Service Central Dodge Charger to the top of the provisional field with a 4.074 at 298.93. If it stands it would be his second career No. 1 qualifying position.

“The Tire Kingdom/Service Central car is running really good,” said Gray. “It was running really good at the end of the year, and we’re hoping to carry that on. The thing came out and ran good. It dropped a hole on the first run and ran good on the second run. I actually had to shut the car off before the finish line because it was getting close to the wall, and I was fixing to get in trouble. If I can hold it in the middle, it out to be fast. There is more in the car, definitely.”

In Pro Stock, Line followed up his No. 1 qualifying position at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona one week ago with the provisional top spot on Friday. Line drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to the top of the pack with a pass of 6.553 at 211.00. If it stands it would be his second of the season and 26th of his career. It would also be his second No. 1 qualifier at Firebird International Raceway.

“It’s good that we qualified No. 1 (in both sessions) today, but it won’t stand,” said Line. “Tomorrow’s conditions will be better, and some of the other cars haven’t made their best runs yet. But it’s still fun to come up here for the No. 1 qualifier interview. I like visiting the press towers of all the different tracks.”

Line’s teammate and O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals winner Greg Anderson sits fourth in the provisional field, while former Pro Stock world champion Mike Edwards sits in the provisional second spot in the category. Qualifying will continue Saturday with sessions scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

—

Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 28th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, second of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Racin’ Today – Quote from John Force

“I’m excited to see writers like Jim Pedley, John Sturbin, Rick Minter, and Bill Fleischman, guys who have written about me, working together at www.racintoday.com. The internet is huge and it is giving talented guys like these professionals a place to get their stories out to our fans and the public. The media is changing and I am excited to see writers that have covered me and all of motorsports creating a new way to get our stories to our fans. They can take motorsports journalism to the next level. I’ve dealt with these guys for over 15 years all across the country.”

“As an example of the character of these guys, when Sturbin was with the Ft. Worth Star Telegram and I was racing at the Texas Motorplex, one of my favorite tracks he showed how he is an individual who gets it. He understands the sport and the drivers. Years ago I ran my mouth at the Texas Motorplex saying I was going to go out and set a record and if I didn’t I would eat his newspaper column. Well I didn’t set the record so I went into the press room and ate his column the next day. He told before I started that I didn’t have to follow through but I told him if I say something I am going to back it up whether I win or lose. That is the kind of pro Sturbin is as well as the rest of the writers at racintoday.com are. They will write the truth whether you like it or not.”

“You better not blame something on your car because Sturbin will dig and find out whether or not it was the car or you. He gets down in the trenches, tells the truth, and he knows what he is talking about. I am excited for these writers and this new website because I have always loved the media and I know that without the media you don’t have much. You have to be able to tell your story and get it right. These guys are guys who will make sure they get it right.” - JOHN FORCE